Feed mechanism for cartridge belts



G. C. GENTRY ET AL FEED MECHANISM FOR CARTRIDGE BELTS April 12, 1949.

7 Sheets-Sheef 1 Filed May 22, 1942 Avrsn r'ok! GEO/F65 0. GENT/aFOBEKTJ. AE/V/V/V April 12, 1949.

Filed May 22, 1942 G. c. GENTRY ET AL 2,466,697

FEED MECHANISM FOR CARTRIDGE BELTS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 w Q a N Q N N6502645 61 GEA/TE/ Foal-=27- J. 451V 0 April 12, 1949. G. c GENTRY ET AL2,466,697

FEED MECHANISM FOR CARTRIDGE BELTS Filed May 22, 1942 '7' Sheets-Sheet 3April 12, 1949. G. c. GENTR-Y ET AL FEED MECHANISM FOR CARTRIDGE BELTS 7Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 22, 1942 April 12, 1949.

Filed May 22, 1942 G. C. GENTRY ETAL FEED MECHANISM FOR CARTRIDGE BELTS7 Sheets-Sheet 5 fioaez-r-J, LE 'NO? 6 loan) April 12, 1949;

Filed May 22, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 .GEOEGE C. GNfEy Ap 1949? V "eqc.GENTRY ET AL FEED MECHAKISM FOR CARTRIDGE BELTS 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FiledMay 22, 1942 kin/wra Gsaec-Fe 6. GENT/Q)" Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITEDSTATES @A'EENT ()FFlCE.

FEED MECHANISM FOR CARTRIDGE BELTS George C. Gentry, Pittsburgh, Pa.,and Robert J. Lennon, Molina; Ikl.

9 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forGovernment for governm ntal purposes, without the payment to us of a anyroyalty thereon.

This invention relates to cartridge belt feeding mechanisms actuated bythe firing oscillations of automatic Weapons.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a booster mechanismwherein continuous rotation is derived from alternating linear motioninduced by weapon recoil and counterrecoil.

Where cartridge belts must employ stripping ips, the invention furtherprovides means for automatic clip removal upon predetermined feedwayingress.

The invention still further provides for the maintenance of a constantbooster feeding pressure in all instances Where cartridge belts employstripping clips.

The invention still further provides for correct positioning of theunclipped or stripped cartridges in the feedway prior to bolt pickup.

With the foregoing and other objects inyiew, the invention resides inthe novel arrangement and combinations of parts and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatchanges in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed maybe made withinthescope of what is claimed without departure from thespirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention, as applied to a twentymillimeter Hispano-Suiza (Birkigt) type 404 cannon, is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. Us a top plan view of the improved feeding mechanism, including aphantom outline of the near, cannon structure;

Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the feeding mechanism, including aphantom outline of the near cannon mount structure;

Fig. 3 shows a rear end view of the mechanism secured to a phantomcross-section of both cannon and mount;

Fig. 4 shows a front view of the mechanism secured to the phantomcross-section of Fig. 3, the inner lower corner of the leading plateportion being cut away to better show the feeding spool drive;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of-Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-3 of Fig. 2;

'7 is a sectional view taken on the line l--l of 2;

amended April30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) Fig. 8 shows a front viewof aslightly modified form of feeding spool drive;

9 -shows a transverse sectionalview of a stripped cartridge positioningmeans; and.

Fig. 10ris a bottom plan View of the stripping cartridge clip shown inside elevationin Fig. 2.:

In the description which follows, we have'elected toillustrate ourinvention as presently utilized bythe Army Air Forces in connection withnonengine installations of the twenty, millimeter Hispano-Suiza(Birkigt) type 404ecannonin aircraft; It therefore. follows thatultimate'disti-nce tionmust be clearly drawn between broad appli-vcation: of our invention to automatic cannons and machine guns, ingeneral, and the special applicae tionthercof described below. In thelatter, care is;takentoparticularly point out'partsarrangementsexclusivelyrequire'd in connection with the type 404.;cannon.

Referringjointlyto Figs. 1; 2 and 4 of the draw,- ings, the cannonstructure adjacent to our-feeding mechanism is, represented by a phantomoutline I, As viewed-in transverse. section,- the cannon out:- line iis: completely surrounded as well as supported .by a, mount representedbyiapha-n-tom outline. 2. Theprincip'al sub-assemblies of our-inventionconsist of a feedbox with outletabutting a; through .feedway 4 whichpreviously formed an essential part of a well knowncylindrical typemagazine extensively usedlin connection with the type 404. cannon;afspring loaded feeding spool 5uloc-atedimmediately beneath the inletof'the feed box 3;. a driving. mechanism .8 in front ofan'd coaxial withthe feeding. spool 5:; a clutch l jointly coaxial with and.interconnecting the feeding spool 52 and its driving mechanism 6; ends,linkagefi interconnecting the driving. mechanism 6 with abracketassembly 9* longitudinally adjustably securedto the undersurfaceofthe cannon outline I. As best illustrated inFigs. 1 through 3 of'thedrawings, the feed box-3'cons-ists of a top lil having. an inspectionopening ll and to the bottom surface of which-are-riveted twopa-rallelly disposed front andrear cartridge guides l2 and iii;

of a bottom l having feeding spool and cartridge clip ejector cutoutslli'and' ltand to the top surface of which are riveted two parallellydisposed front and rear cartridge guides l1 and I3; of'a front end 19;and of a rear end 26. It will be noted, in Figs. 1 and 3, that the inneroverhanging ends of the feed box top l9 and bottom l4 are fixed'tothe':outer half ofthe through feedwa-y 4 by means of screws 2i and that theirouter ends are fixed to the front and rearfeed-b'ox ends l9 and-2d bymeans of boltsZZ. As vie'we'dinFig. 3,

the feed box 3 is readily detachably secured to the cannon mountrepresented by the phantom outline 2 by means of front and rear topbrackets 23 and 24, including associated tie rods 25 and lock nuts 26;and front and rear bottom brackets 21 and 28 secured to later referredto spool supports, including associated tie rods 29 and lock nuts 26. Ifdesired, four lock washers can be readily added beneath the fouroutermost (i. e., left hand) lock nuts 26. Description of the cartridgeclip removing means fixed to the lower midportion of the feed box bottomi l immediately follows description of its cofunctioning feeding spool5.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6 of the drawings, the spring loaded feedingspool 5 consists of a supportin shaft portion, a spool assembly portion,and a (spring) coupling portion therebetween. The first mentionedportion consists of a star wheel shaft 32, with rear end supported by abushing 33 pressed into the outer lower extremity of a rear spoolsupporting bracket 34 fixed to the rear undersurface of the feed boxbottom It by means of four previously mentioned bolts 22 and other bolts35. The shaft 32 is held against longitudinal movement by means of awasher 35, a lock nut 37, and a staked pin 38. The second mentionedspool assembly portion consists of front and rear star wheels 30 and 3|fixed in the assembled showing of Figs. 5 and 6 by means of a pluralityof spacer tubes 39 and cooperating screws 40. The last mentioned drivingportion consists of a plurality of coil springs 4| and a driven pin 42,the latter being fixed to the aforesaid star wheels well outboard oftheir supporting shaft. The outer extremities of the coil springs 45 arelooped fast to the driven pin 42, while their inner ends are inwardlyturned in such manner that they rotationally fixedly engage a drivinggroove 43 provided in the star wheel shaft 32, Figure 6. While renderedsubstantially fixed against longitudinal movement through addition of aspacer collar M, two inwardly pressed bushings 45, and a compressionspring 46 of the clutch 7, as viewed in Fig. 5, the feeding spool 5 isfree to lag behind clockwise rotation of its supporting shaft 32 untilthe four coil springs 4| have built up a tight wound total torque of 400inch pounds. The aforesaid springs are further designed to deliver atotal 145 degree unwound torque of 280 inch pounds.

The following forms an essential prelude to description of the cartridgeclip removing means. Referring jointly to Figs. 2, 6 and of thedrawings, as viewed from the rear or trailing side and from the bottomplan, the stripping clip 4'! consists of a leading (non-cartridgegripping) portion 48 and a trailing (cartridge gripping) portion 49. Theportion 48 is of simple half-ring form with leading end terminating inan outwardly turned stop 5!} and trailing end provided with forwardlyand rearwardly projecting arms 5| and 52, respectively. Its insidediameter is slightly in excess of the outside case base diameter of the(partial) cartridge phantom outline 53 shown in Fig. 10 such that theformer readily falls away from the latter under circumstances fullydiscussed below. The trailing portion 49 consists of a front half-ring54, from the front midportion of which projects (and slightly depends) afront stripper lug 55 and from the rear midportion of which projects(and slightly depends) a tie piece 56 with a trailing projection 51; andof a rear half-ring 58, with front mid portion joined to the tie piece56 and from the rear midportion of which projects (and slightly .4depends) a rear stripper lug 59, the trailing portion 51 supporting thecartridge between the half-rings 54 and 58. As viewed in Fig. 10, thedownwardly extending leading ends of the front and rear half-ring 54 and58 are bent upwardly about the longitudinal axes 60 and SI, slightlyless than 180 degrees, after which they project upwardly and blend intothe forwardly and rear- Wardly projecting arms 5| and 52 of the leadingportion 18. The inside diameters of the front and rear half-rings 5G and58 are less than the outside diameters of the case bottleneck and casebase of the (partial) cartridge 53 such that the former predeterminatelygrip the latter. The phantom cartridge belt 62 shown in Fig. 6 is formedby snapping the trailing edge portion 49' (only the tie piece 56 andtrailing projection 51 of which are cut by section 6-6) of a phantomclip M over the case bottleneck and case base of a phantom cartridge 53by loosely cradling the forward end of the case base of a second phantomcartridge 53 within the leading edge portion 58' (completely out throughby section 6-5) of the phantom clip ll and thereafter securing thelatter to the former by snapping the trailing edge portion 49 of asecond phantom clip M over the case bottleneck and case base of theaforesaid second phantom cartridge 53 (such that the two half-rings of49 straddle the single half-ring of 48'); and by thereafter repeatingthe above enumerated process for the remaining six phantom cartridges 53through 53 and six phantom clips 4'1 through 41 In conclusion, it shouldbe noted that although each trailing cartridge 53 and its attachedstripping clip d! can be freely rotated as a whole about thelongitudinal axis of its preceding cartridge 53 through an angle closelyapproximating 180 degrees; the presence of the outwardly turned stop 55upon the open ends of each clip leading portion 38, in combination withthe presence of the leading edges of the tie pieces 55 of each cliptrailing portion (l3, positively prevents premature cartridgedisengagement prior to contact with the clip removing means.

The cartridge clip stripper and deflector means can be best visualizedby joint study of Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 10 of the drawings. As shown in thefirst three figures noted above, the front and rear edges of thecartridge clip cutout l6 provided in the feed box bottom M are suppliedwith flush front and rear angle brackets 63 and 64, fixed in place bymeans of bolts 65. The gap between the inturned surfaces of the anglebrackets 63 and 64 is bridged by a cartridge clip deflector assembly 66,consisting of a depending deflector apron 61 supported by front and rearends 68 and 65). The last named ends are clamped fast between the frontand rear faces, respectively, of a front stripper "l0 and a rearstripper II and the above mentioned inturned surfaces of the anglebrackets 63 and 54 by means of screws 12. The outermost or leading edgesof the front and rear strippers l0 and H are sharply tapered orwedge-shaped in form such that they are readily adapted to enter the twovertical gaps best indicated in Fig. 2 as existing between the topsurface of the partially depending front stripper lug 55 and adjacentcase bottleneck surface of the phantom cartridge 53 and the top surfaceof the partially depending rear stripper lug 59 and adjacent case basesurface of the phantom cartridge 53 Thereafter; with continuing Fig. 6'advancement of the aforesaid phantom cartridge to the positioning of thesixth phantom cartridge 53',

then-to thepositioning of the seventh phantom cartridge 53*, then to thepositioning of the eighth phantom, cartridge 53 the phantom outline ofeachsucceedi-ng clip- A1 A1 and. M is indicated, respectively; firstly,as only slightly withdrawn such that its trailing two half-rings stillpartially grip the cartridge casing; secondly, as fully withdrawn suchthat its trailing two half-rings no longer grip the cartridge casing;and thirdly, as stillwmore fully withdrawn such that the greater portionof its trailing two half-rings have now fallen clear of the cartridgeclip deflector assembly-GB. With departure of the two trailinghalfrin-gsfromthe casing of any advancing cartridge, the leading,half-ring of the next (i. e., immediately following) cartridge isentirely free to fall away; from the undersurfaces of the aforesaidadvanced cartridge.

, Asa prelude to detailed description of the feeding spool drivingmechanism 6, the clutch 1 andlthe linkage 8, it is felt desirable todeal briefly with a bracket 73 specially designed to simultaneouslysupport the aforesaid three parts groupings. Referring jointly to Figs.1, 2 and 4 of, the drawings, the bracket it consists of an L.-.shapedcover and nd plate I l fixed to the front end, of the feed box top it bymeans of the bolts. 35; a front spool supporting bracket 15 fixed to thefront end of the feed box bottom it by means of other bolts 35; twovertically separated and laterally disposed brackets it welded totherear inner face of the front spool supporting bracket l5 and having anouter (ratchet release lever) clevis pin hole l1 and an inner(feed'drive b'ellcrank) clevis pin hole iii; an upper (push rod guide)supporting plate i9 having its front and rear ends welded to the innermidportions of the plate 14 and the front spool supporting bracket l5and its inner edge provided with a shallow inwardly projecting portionor boss Bil; a slightly sloping and narrow vertical plate 8i with topand bottom ends welded, re-

spectively, to the inner midbottom surface of the plate ldand to theinner midtop surface of the upper supporting plate 19; and a lower (pushrod" guide) supporting plate 82 shaped like, attached like, and disposedparallel to the upper supporting plate 19.

As best illustrated in Figs. 2, 5 and 7 of the drawings, the feedingspool driving mechanism fiis supported by and operates through a shaft83'' consisting of a front bearing portion fi l, encased in a bushing85; a threaded portion 86, carrying lock nuts 8! and 83; a narrow recess89s a central portion 90 with oppositely disposed driving surfaces 9!(best shown in Fig. '7); a rear bearing portion 92 of slightly increaseddiameter, encased in a bushing 93; and a shoulder portion 94, the rearor open end of which is provided with twenty-four ratchet teeth 95 anda-coaxially disposed pilot hole 96. If desired, a thrust washer 97 canbe added between the front face-of the shoulder portion 9d and the rearface of thefront spool supporting bracket 75. The predetermined torquedelivering portion of the feeding spool driving mechanism 6 is entirelyconfined toaportions 86, 89 and 98 of the shaft 83. Itconsists of the.previously referred to lock nuts 8-? and 88; a thrust washer 98; frontand rear. thrust. bearing 99; a conically formed spring washer ma; frontandrear thrust collars lfll; a, front female cone assembly I02, withrearwardly. facing cavity; a rear female cone assembly: N13,, withforwardly facing cavity; a ring shaped-spacer HM: interposed between theouter 6, (driving) portions of the female cone assemblies inland I03;and a double male cone I05 encased within the inner (driven) portions ofthe female cone assemblies. "12' and H13. While free to slidelongitudinally along the shaft 83, within the limits of the oppositelydisposed driving faces M, the double male cone 105 is fully fixed by thelast mentioned faces against rotation with respect to the aforesaidshaft 83. The remaining parts 98 through I04 of the feeding spool drivinmechanism 6 are merely journaled upon the shaft 83. The amount or degreeof joint friction which the inwardly turned (right circular conical)surfaces of the driven female cones (E52 and 583) can in turn impart tothe outwardly turned surfaces of the double male cone (M5) is regulatedby longitudinal adjustment of the lock nuts Bl and 88.

Referring specifically to Figs. 2, 5, and 7 of the drawings, the frontfemale cone assembly I02 comprises one complete (counterclockwiseacting) silent ratchet mechanism consisting of, a driving ring idsprovided with a clevis boss I01, a clevis pin H38 and a clevis cotterpin I09; a driven cone l ill (previously referred to as a cone element)having its circumference provided with six equispaced wedge-shapedrecesses HI, the butt or radially disposed end of each of which isprovided with a spring recess H2; six rollers He (held againstlongitudinal escapement by the thrust collar iii! and the ring-shapedspacer of Fig. 5); and six compression springs H4 for constantly urgingthe rollers H3 towards-the converging ends of the wedge-shaped recessesill.

While unessential to the obviously adequatepresent drawing disclosure, alateral sectional view through the rear female cone assembly H13 woulddisclose an exact repetition of the parts showing of Fig. 7, with thesingle exception that the clevis boss liil (and a later referred to linkelement of the linkage 8) would appear at the bottom of the assembl asshown in Fig. 4. It therefore follows that the rear cone assemblyi533constitutes a second (likewise counterclockwise acting) silent ratchetmechanism. The operation of the aforesaid ratchet mechanisms will befully covered in connection with the description of the linkage 3.

As best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings, the clutch l isshown to consist of the previously described shoulder portion 9 3 of theshaft 83; a wheel shaft ratchet H5 having its front end provided withtwenty-four ratchet teeth adapted to mate with similar teeth locatedupon the rear end of the shaft 83 and its rear end provided with apushout disk H6; aratchet release lever ill having its front innerportion pivotally secured between the inturned faces of the brackets iiiby meansof a clevis pin H8 and the clevis cotter pin ltd; and thepreviously mentioned clutch compression sprin 46 It will be noted thatthe front end of the wheel shaft 32 is provided with a pilot H9,journaled within the pilot hole 95 provided in the rear end of the shaft33, and with oppositely disposed driving surfaces I23. While free toslide longitudinally along the wheel shaft 32, within the limits of theoppositely disposed driving faces i2 3, the wheel shaft ratchet H5 isfully fixed by the last mentioned faces against rotation with respect tothe aforesaid shaft 32. Usage of the clutch fl is fully explained,below.

Construction and. interaction of the bracket assembly 9 and the linkage3 can be best. under 7. stood by joint reference to Figs. 1', 4 and '7of the drawings. The former consists of an elongated plate I2I havingtwo reamed holes I22 therethrough and its undersurface provided withvery finely spaced and laterally disposed teeth I23 thereacross; asecond substantially triangular shaped plate I24 having two elongatedholes I25 so constructed and arranged (with respect to the reamed holesI22) that it can be materially longitudinally adjusted with respect tothe immediately overlaying elongated plate I21, the top surface of theaforesaid plate I24 being further provided with mating laterallydisposed teeth I23 and the outer corner thereof being still furtherprovided with a threaded hole I26; a pin I21 adapted to be screwed intothe aforesaid hole I26 such that its smooth end thereafter dependstherebeneath; and two bolts I28 whereby the plates I2I and I24 can befixedly secured to the left-hand portion (as viewed in Fig. 4) of theundersurface of the phantom cannon outline I. Once properly adjusted,the aforesaid bracket assembly remains permanently secured to thatportion of the cannon under surface which recoils in firing. As viewedin Fig. 1, each cartridge explosion causes material right hand (i. e.,rearward) movement of the phantom cannon outline I and its attachedbracket assembly 9. The latter (linkage 8) consists of an L-shapedbellcrank I29 with its heel portion pivotally secured to the hole 18provided in the inner end of the horizontal brackets 16 (welded to therear inner face of the front spool supporting bracket 15) by means of aclevis pin I30 and retaining cotter pin I09 and its end portionsprovided open pin slots ISI (for engaging th pin I21) and I32; a pushrod I33 with its horizontally slotted inner end provided with a hole I34for receiving a clevis pin I35 (engaged by the open pin slot I32) andretaining cotter pin I09 and its vertically disposed undercut outer endprovided with a hole I36 for receiving a clevis pin I31 and retainingcotter pin I09; upper and lower push rod guides I38 and I39 fixed to theupper and lower supporting plates 19 and 82 by means of bolts I40; anupper arcuate link I4I having its lower extremity pivotally secured tothe outer forward face of the push rod I33 by means of the clevis pinI31 and upper slotted extremity similarly secured to the driving ringclevis boss I01 (of the front ring) by means of the clevis pin I08; anda lower arcuate link I42 having its upper extremity pivotally secured tothe outer rear face of the push rod I33 by means of the same clevis pinI31 and its lower slotted extremity similarly secured to the drivingring clevis boss I01 (of the rear ring) by means of another clevis pinI08. If desired, washers can be installed beneath the cotter pins I09 ofthe aforesaid clevis pins I30, I35. I31 and I08.

As a prelude to operation of the subassemb-lies 6 through 9, it shouldbe noted that the driving mechanism 6, the clutch 1 and the linkage 8form an integral part of and are attached directly to the feed box 3 andthat the last named are readily brought into or removed from operableengagement with the bracket assembly 9 by attachment or removal of thehooked inner ends of the (upper front and rear) tie rods 25 and the(lower front and rear) tie rods 29 from four attaching holes I43 shownin Figs. 3 and 4 to be provided in the phantom outline 2 of the cannonmount. With each reassembly of the feed box 3, the open pin slot I3I (ofthe bellcrank I29) must be carefully aligned with the pin I21 (of thebracket assembly 9) prior to final attachment. It should also be noted,in Figs. 1 and 2, that the phantom outline I of the cannon is in itsmost forwardly position with respect to the phantom outline 2 of thecannon mount. Under such conditions, as viewed in Fig, 1, the dot-dashlongitudinal axis 'OA of the inner arm of the bellcrank I29 has adecided forward cant or tilt with respect to true lateral, resulting incorresponding outward cant or tilt of the dotdash longitudinal axis OBof the outer arm (of the same bellcrank) from true fore and aft. Theaforesaid longitudinal axes positions result in counterpositionin-g ofthe upper and lower arcuate links MI and I42 in the extreme righthandplacement of Figs. 4 and 7. Under such conditions, as viewed in Fig. 4,the dot-dash reference line 0C (drawn through the longitudinal axes ofthe shaft 83 and the clevis pin I08) has a decided outward or right-handtilt with respect to true vertical. The significance of the aforesaidpo-sitionings will soon be apparent.

The cannon and mount are retained in the normal phantom I and 2relationships of Figs. 1 and 2 by means of an adapter located aconsiderable distance (i. e., several feet) in advance of the cartridgefeeding mechanism. As long as the cannon remains inert, the aforesaidrelationships continue. However, once firing oommences, the cannonadapter permits marked right-hand or rearward movement of the cannonwith respect to the mount, resulting in clockwise movements of thedot-dash longitudinal axes 0A and OB of Fig. 1 into the new dot-dot-dashlongitudinal axes positionin-gs 0A and OB. The aforesaid new axespositionings result in corresponding repositioning of the upper andlower arcuate links MI and I42 approximately one and one-half linkwidths to the left hand of the present Fig. 4 and Fig. 7 placement.Under such conditions, the dot-dash reference line 00 of Fig. 4 moves ina counterclockwise direction to the new dot-dash positioning 00, atwhich positioning the cannon adapter has completely absorbed rearwardshock incident to cartridge discharge. Recoil energy stored within theadapter, as a result of cartridge discharge, thereafter automaticallyreturns the cannon to the initial positioning of Figs. 1 and 2. Theeffect of alternate movement of the last mentioned reference line (frompositioning CC to OC, then from positioning O0 to 00) upon the drivingmechanism 6 is fully described below.

From the counterclockwise inclinations of the wedge-shaped recesses II Iof Fig. '1, in combination with the further fact that the rollers II 3are constantly being urged in the same counterclockwise direction by thecompression springs I I4, it is at once apparent that an infinitelysmall counterclockwise movement of the driving ring I06 is all that isrequired to cause counterclockwise rotation of the rollers II3 up theinclines III sufficiently to bring about complete fixation between thedriving ring I06 and the driven cone H0. Therefore, during substantiallyall of its movement from position 0G to position 0C, the driving ringI06 is effecting counterclockwise movement of the driven cone IIO. Fromthe above, it is also equally apparent that following attainment ofposition 0C, a like infinitely small clockwise movement of the drivingring I06 is all that is required to cause clockwise rotation of therollers II3 down the incline III sufficiently to bring about completeremoval of prior fixation existing between the driving ring I06 and thedriven cone III].

During return of the front and rear driving rings Hill to the initialposition and OD shown in Fig. 4, two additionally important mechanicaloperations occur. Firstly, the front driven cone I I0 is held in.rotational fixity with respect to the double male cone I 65 of Fig.(during the entire period of driving ring return) through frictioninduced in their mating conical surfaces by the longitudinally actingthrust washer QB. Secondly, in returning from displaced position OD tothe initial position OD shown in Fig. 4, the rear driving ring IIlIiperforms an exact duplication of the work performed by the front drivingring I08 in passing from the initial position 00 of Fig. '7 to thedisplaced position 00'. It is thus readily apparent that applicantsutilize countercoil, as well as recoil, of the cannon for the purpose ofmaintaining constant driving torque in their cartridge feedingmechanism.

The function of the clutch I becomes readily evident when initialloading of the cartridge belt-G2 shown in Fig, 6 is considered inconjunction with the further showings of Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings.As long as the cannon remains inert, the shaft 83 of the drivingmechanism 6 must also remain stationary. Thus, were the ratchet wheelshaft 32 of the feeding spool 5 fixedly coupled to the aforesaid shaft83, the coiled springs t! of Fig. 6 would completely counteract anyattempt to accomplish initial insertion of the cartridge belt 62.However, through simple manipulation of the ratchet release level III ofFigs. 1 and 2, the feeding spool 5 is rendered completely free to rotatein any desired direction and an armorer can readily load the shell belt$.52 in the position indicated in Fig. 6.

'In the previous description of Fig. 6 of the drawings, it is noted thaton and after assuming the phantom position 53 the cartridges of the belt62 are completely freed from clip attachment. In passing from phantomposition 53 to phantom position 53 each inwardly traveling cartridge 53is still firmly grasped fore and aft by the front shell guides I2 and IIand the rear shell guides I3 and I 8 of Fig. 2. While the abovearrangement should normally assure proper longitudinal alignment of theunclipped cartridges advancing through the through feedway II, prior tobolt pickup, if desired a stripped cartridge positioning means HM can beinstalled. In Fig. 9, a slightly modified feed box top It is provi'dedwith front and rear lever bosses I45 having their inwardly facing endsflush with the front and rear edges of an inspection opening II(identical in shape and placement to the inspection opening II of Fig.1). Each of the aforesaid bosses is provided with. a clevis pin hole M5,clevis pin Isl and clevis cotter pin 548 for pivot ally securing theouter ends of an H-shaped lever M9. The slightly depending inner ends ofthe lever I 39 are provided with laterally disposed slots I58 adapted toslidab-ly engage and support two 'journals'I5l provided in the front andrear ends of a roller I52. The last named is retained in pressureengagement with successively advancingpairs of cartridges 53 by means oftwo coil springs I 53. It'thlls becomes readily apparent that twoindependent (though enacting) means are provided for the purpose ofassuring continuously correct positioning of all cartridges which haveprogressed inwardly beyond the phantom cartridge positioning 53 and arethere awaiting bolt pickup.

Fig. .8 of the drawings shows a modified form of linkage 8' in which thefront and rear driving rings Hit, the upper and lower arcuate links MIand H52, and the push rod I33 of Figs. 4 and '7 are replaced,respectively, by modified front and rear driving rings ltlli'incorporating short gear segments IEQ in lieu of the previous clevisbosses Ifll (best shown in Fig. '7); by upper and lower prongs S56 andI57, of a forked link I55, incorporating short racks I58 and slidinglyguided by a depending support I59 fixed to the undersurface of aslightly modified cover and end plate M by means of screws ii; and by abase portion I60, of the forked link I55, having its inner end formed ina manner identical to formation :of the inner end of the push rod I33.It will be noted that the upper, the vertical and the lower supportingplates I9, BI and 82; the upperand lower push rod guides I38 and I39;and the four bolts I46 shown in Figs. 4 and '7 are not required inconnection with the modified form of linkage 3' illustrated in Fig. 8.The linkages 8 andfB' both operate in identically the same manner.

At the commencement of the preceding description, it is stated that aclear distinction will be drawn between broad application of 'ourinvention to automatic cannons and machine guns installations and thespecial application thereof described above. Many parts disclosed aboveare exclusively related to type 404'cannon operation and for that reasonare not essential to basic operation of our invention. Their presence isdue principally to the fact that the aforesaid cannon has beenheretofore serviced solely by such spring loaded cartridge magazines asthe (French) Chatellerault cylindrical magazine, which is designed insuch a manner that advancing cartridges are successively .removed fromtheir retaining clips prior to weapon entry, due to the fact that thebolt action of the type 404 cannon is unsuited for accomplishing normalcartridge clip release.

There are discussed below, in order of their original presentation,certain sub-assemblies and individual parts which can be eithercompletely eliminated from basic consideration of our invention or forwhich much simpler structures can be substituted in connectiontherewith. Referring to Figs. 1 through 3 of the drawings, the feed box3 can be greatly simplified for the average machine gun installation byelimination of the cartridge guides I2, I3, I1 and I8; andthe throughfeedway 4 (previously noted as taken from the Chatellerault magazine).As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the feeding spool 5 canbe materiallysimplified by complete elimination-of the four coil springs 4i(providing the spring loaded feature referred to in the precedingparagraph) and by substituting therefor rotational fixity between thefront and rear star wheels -30 and SI and their supporting shaft 32.Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the feed box attaching parts 25 through 29relate exclusively to a type 404 cannon installation,

The cartridge clip 41 shown in Figs. 2 and 10 of the drawings; as wellas the cartridge clip stripper parts It through I3 of Figs. 1, 2 and 6;pertain solely to the type 404 cannon. In the average machine guninstallation, our invention can employ any one of several widelyutilized metal cartridge clips. While still retaining its presentL-shaped form, the arm lengths and pivot point of the bellcrank I29 (ofthe linkage 8 shown in Figs. 1 and 4) must be obviously r varied tosuit'the recoil working limits 'ofcach stallation.

separate automatic cannon or machine gun in-- stallation to whichapplied. The structural form each new automatic cannon or machine guninshown in Fig. 9 pertains exclusively to the type '404 cannoninstallation and can therefore be eliminated from broad usage 'of ourinvention.

Although the descriptions of this specification are mainly specific tothetype 404 cannon instal lation illustrated in Figs. 1 through 10 ofthe drawings, or readily understood modifications departurestherefrom,both with respect to. nar- The cartridge positioning means gun having apart subject to movement during thereof, it is-to be understood thattherecan be row type 404 cannon application andto general w automaticcannon and machine gun usagawhich will stilliclearly fall withinthefield and scope of :the subject invention, and we therefore do not"wish. to toe-restricted thereto, but only in so far as the appendedclaims are so limited;

, Having thus described ourinvention, what we mounted on said drivenshaft, a clutch connect:-

-ing the adjacent ends of said. shafts, manually operable meansfor'disconnecting said clutch,

driving means for said driving shaft comprising 7 an inn-er frictionmember nonerotatably mounted thereon, outer friction members rotatablymounted on said driving shaftin frictional contact with said innermember, oscillatable drivin rings sur rounding-said outer members,clutch means between said rings and said outer members constructed andarranged to drive said outer members solely in one direction upon theoscillation of said driving rings, a linkage interposed between themoving parts of the gun and said rings for actuating the latter uponrecoil and counterrecoil of the gun, and a yielding torque transmittingconnection between said driven shaft and said spool for rotating thelatter in the direction of rotation of said driving shaft.

2. A feed mechanism as set forth in claim 1, including a, plurality ofplates rotatably mounted on said driving shaft in engagement with theouter faces of said outer friction members, and a spring washer engagingat least one of said plates, and having adjustable means operativelyassociated therewith for varying the tension of said washer to vary thepressure between the surfaces of said friction members,

3. In a cartridge belt feed mechanism for an automatic gun having a partsubject to movement in recoil and counterrecoil, a frame, a drivingshaft and a driven shaft coaxially mounted for joint and independentmovement in said frame, a cartridge feed spool rotatably and nonslidablymounted on said driven shaft, a clutch adapted to connect the adjacentends of said shafts and including a clutch element carried by eachshaft, driving connections between said driven shaft and its associatedclutch element, a

spiral spring interposed between said driven shaft element and said feedspool for transmitting torque to said spool, a friction discnon-rotatably mounted on said driving shaft, oppositely disposedfriction members rotatably mounted on said driving shaft in frictionalengagement with said friction disc, lone-wayclutch devices carried inthe periphery of said friction members oscillatable driving rings, meansoperatively connect ing saidrings-to the aforesaid gunpart,said

rings surrounding said members and coacting with said clutch devicesto-rotate said members in one direction, both upon recoil andcounterrecoil of the gun part, and a linkage interposedbetween saidrings and the gun part for actuating said rings to drive said shaftsthrough said friction disc.- o .4. In a belt feed mechanism for anautomatic recoil and-counterrecoil, a frame including a shaft journaledtherein, afeed spool rotatably and nonslidably mounted on said shaft,torque-transmit-- ting means connecting said feedspool and shaft, afriction disc non-rotatable: mounted onsaid shaft, driving membersrotatably mounted on said shaftin frictional engagement with saiddisc,

a plurality ofclutch=devices mounted in the peripheries ofisaidmemberaoscillatable drive rings coacting with said devices to drive saidmembers,

tion disc, a bell crank pivoted to said frame and having one arm pivotedto said push rod an'clthe otherto the-movable .part of the gun wherebysaid push rod'is reciprocated upon recoil andcounterrecoil of'the gun5,- In a cartridge .belt feed mechainsm; for an; automatic gunadaptedtoreciprocate in recoil and counterrecoil, a cartridge spool rotatable tofeed cartridges to said gun, a driving mechanism I for said-cartridgefeedspool including a frame,

a driving shaft mounted in said frame and hav ing members thereonthrough which said shaft is driven, a plurality of oscillatable drivingrings, one surrounding each of said members and each being provided withpinion segments, clutch devices between said members and said rings andcooperating therewith to drive said members intermittently in onedirection upon the oscillation of said rings, a yoke shaped memberslidingly supported in said frame and having a rack on each of its armsin engagement respectively with said pinion segments, a linkageoperatively engaging said yoke-shaped member and adapted to engage thesaid gun and constructed and arranged to transmit reciprocating motiondue to said recoil and counterrecoil to said yoke-shaped member tothereby oscillate said rings.

6. In a self-loading weapon having a support fixed against recoil andcounterrecoil and a barrel movable with respect to the support in recoiland counterrecoil, an ammunition feeding device comprising a maincarrying structure adapted to be secured to the support, a first shaftjournaled in said structure, a second shaft journaled in said structurecoaxial with and adapted to be driven by said first shaft, a clutchinterposed between said first and said second shafts, resilient yieldingmeans mounted on at least one of said shafts and normally operative tourge said clutch into positive driving engagement, manually operablemeans for positively disengaging said clutch, ammunition engaging meansoperatively connected to said second shaft, a resilient lost motionconnection interposed between said last-named means and said secondshaft for transmitting torque therebetween, and means responsive to bothrecoil and counterrecoil of the barrel, and having an element forimparting unidirectional rotation to said first shaft duringsubstantially the entire recoil of the barrel, and having a secondelement for imparting further rotation in the same direction to saidfirst shaft during substantially the entire counterrecoil of the barrel.

7. In a self-loading weapon having a support fixed against recoil andcounterrecoil and a barrel movable with respect to the support in recoiland counterrecoil, an ammunition feeding device comprising a maincarryin structure adapted to be secured to the support, a first shaftjournaled in said structure, a second shaft journaled in said structurecoaxial with and adapted to be driven by said first shaft, a clutchinterposed between said first and said second shafts, ammunitionengaging means operatively connected to said second shaft, and meansresponsive to both recoil and counterrecoil of the barrel, and having anelement for imparting unidirectional rotation to said first shaft duringsubstantially the entire recoil of the barreLand having a second elementfor imparting further rotation in the same direction to said first shaftduring substantially the entire counterrecoil of the barrel.

8. In a self-loading Weapon having a support fixed against recoil andcounterrecoil and a barrel movable with respect to the support in recoiland counterrecoil, an ammunition feeding device comprising a maincarrying structure adapted to be secured to the support, a first shaftjournaled in said structure, a second shaft journaled in said structurecoaxial with said first shaft, means connectible between said shafts forthe driving by said first shaft of said second shaft, ammunitionengaging means operatively connected to said second shaft, meansresponsive to both recoil and counterrecoil of the barrel andconstructed and arranged whereby to impart unidirectional rotationalmovement to said first shaft during substantially the entire movement ofthe barrel in recoil and counterrecoil, said last-named means comprisingan inner member secured to said first shaft and. having a plurality offrictional driving surfaces, a plurality of outer members rotatablymounted on said first shaft, each of said outer members having at leastone surface adapted to frictionally engage a driving surface of saidinner member and including a plurality of unidirectional clutches in itsperiphery, a plurality of driving rings operatively associated with saidunidirectional clutches for driving said inner and outer members in onedirection, and a linkage interconnecting said driving rings and at leastthe gun barrel, said linkage including a bracket mounted on the barrel,and means for adiustably positioning said bracket on the barrel forregulating the feeding of ammunition to said weapon.

9. In a self-loading automatic weapon having a fixed part and arelatively movable part thereon, an ammunition feeding device comprisinga main supporting structure adapted to be secured to said relativelyfixed part, shaft means rotatably mounted in said supporting structure,ammunition engaging and feeding means operatively connected to saidshaft means, means responsive to relative motion in opposite directionsbetween said fixed and movable parts and constructed and arrangedwhereby to impart unidirectional rotational movement to said shaft meansduring substantially the entire movement of said relatively movableparts in said opposite directions, and a bracket adjustably mounted onsaid relatively movable part, said relative motion responsive meansincluding a linkage operatively associated with said bracket and withsaid shaft means for transmitting motion therebetween and including anelement for imparting unidirectional rotation to said shaft means duringsubstantially th entire recoil of the barrel and including a secondelement for imparting further rotation in the same direction to saidshaft means during substantially the entire counterrecoil of the barrel.

GEORGE C. GENTRY. ROBERT J. LENNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 863,101 Schwarzlose Aug. 13, 19071,178,624 Candelon Apr. 11, 1916 1,399,440 Payne Dec, 6, 1921 1,692,328Browning Nov. 20, 1928 1,842,446 Dabrasky Jan. 26, 1932 2,222,812Faulkner et al Nov. 26, 1940 2,366,395 Hall Jan. 2, 1945 2,375,219Gentry et a1. May 8, 1945 2,375,452 Webb May 8, 1945 2,377,828 Trotteret a1 June 5, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,332 GreatBritain 1914 19,641 Great Britain 1906 193,950 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1938310,179 Germany Dec. 13, 1919 323,401 Germany July 24, 1920 355,767France Feb, 21, 1930 492,774 France Apr. 2, 1919 706,160 Germany May 19,1941

